After reading many forums and blogs I finally came across the Raleigh Sojourn. This is a proven company and has great marks with the biking community. Some standard bonus features of the bike that most others don't include: Brooks B17 Saddle, SKS Fenders, Pannier Rack and a Leyzne Tire Pump. It also comes with Brooks leather bar wrap and Avid BB5 disc brakes. With the disc brakes, downhills coming through the Rockies will be less treacherous since they dissipate heat better than the more widely used rim contact cantilever brakes. I found it in a shop in Toronto Canada and was quite the nail biter to see if it would show up in decent condition.
With the bike all put together it is a comfortable ride with a lot of stability. Its a little slow on the take off but, what can you really expect to get from a touring bike that weighs 30+ pounds before the gear. The brakes are quick to get the bike stopped in a controlled manner and easy to maintain. I would suggest this bike to anyone planning a touring trip on a budget.
The bike handles like a dream when fully weighted down. I even threw on an extra five pounds in free weights to put it to the test. It handled nicely and kept its speed...once up to speed. Definitely handled way better than expected.
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